8.

11 Satellites
As you know, Earth has one natural satellite orbiting it—the Moon. Earth
also has thousands of other satellites circling it at different altitudes and
orbits, but these are all made by humans (Figure 1).
Artificial satellites help forecast weather, monitor agriculture, aid in
telecommunication or navigation, assist military activities, and explore the
Universe (Figure 2).

Figure 1 Artificial satellites provide

valuable monitoring and communication
services for humankind.

DID YOU KNOW?

Space Debris
In February 2009, two communications
satellites (one American and one
Russian) collided over Siberia. The
resulting debris added to the 300 000
pieces of space junk already orbiting
Earth. What safety hazards does this
space debris pose? Will more satellites
in orbit contribute to an increased
incidence of these collisions?

Figure 2 Today, more than 40 countries have put over 3000 functioning satellites into orbit
around Earth.
To learn more about the
satellites in Figure 2, Human-occupied spacecraft, such as the Space Shuttle, and space facilities,
GO TO NELSON SCIENCE such as the International Space Station, also function as artificial satellites.
In 1957, the first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) was sent into space by the
Soviet Union. Its mission was to orbit Earth. Five years later, Canada’s first
READING TIP satellite (Alouette 1) was launched.
Finding the Main Idea Canada has been a world leader in developing satellite technology over
The main idea gives the author’s Ontario
thoughtsScience 9 SB50 years. We have become renowned for building some of the most
the last
about a topic or key concept. Start by
0-17-635519-7 powerful telecommunications and Earth observation satellites. Canadian
identifying the topic or key concept
of the text (satellites) and whether
engineers and scientists employ this expertise to design and build satellites
FN used inC08-F34-UCOS9SB
astronomy and space exploration—for everything from measuring
the text breaks it down into subtopics
(natural and artificial satellites). Then
CO characteristics
Creative of planets around distant stars to searching for potentially
Freelancers
check if the author gives a perpective dangerous asteroids.
on the topic (Canada is a world leader
in developing artificial satellites).
Sam Laterza

Pass Third Pass

346 Chapter 8 • Our Place in Space NEL
Approved

Not Approved
6646_Sci9_Ch08_pp338-359.indd 346 8/4/09 3:41:46 PM
 Staying in Orbit
How do all of these satellites keep orbiting Earth without plunging back
to the ground? The force of Earth’s gravity continuously pulls the satellite
toward Earth. However, the forward motion of the satellite and the curvature
of Earth prevent the satellite from getting any closer to the surface.
Imagine firing a powerful cannon as pictured in Figure 3(a). The
cannonball would fly through the air until it curved toward the ground, pulled
down by gravity. If the cannonball was fired with more velocity, it would travel
farther before coming to rest on the ground. It would still curve toward Earth,
but Earth also starts to curve beneath it because Earth is shaped like a sphere
(Figure 3(b)). If we could fire the cannonball with enough velocity, it would
fall toward Earth but never actually hit it because its flight would extend
LEARNING TIP
around the curve of Earth (Figure 3(c)). When engineers launch a satellite
Diagrams
into Earth orbit, they launch it much like the powerful cannon. The satellite
Diagrams often help clarify what is
needs to attain sufficient velocity to make sure that when Earth’s gravity pulls explained in the text. How did the
it down, it continuously falls around Earth’s curvature (Figure 3(d)). It is diagrams in Figure 3 help you understand
called a continuous Earth orbit. about satellites staying in orbit?

(a) (b)

satellite

gravitational pull

velocity

(c) (d)

Figure 3 The satellite stays in a stable orbit because of the balance between its forward velocity and Earth’s gravitational pull.

Ontario Science 9 SB Ontario Science 9 SB

0-17-635519-7 0-17-635519-7

N C08-F23a-UCOS9SB
NEL FN C08-F23b-UCOS9SB 8.11 Satellites 347

O Creative Freelancers CO Creative Freelancers

6646_Sci9_Ch08_pp338-359.indd 347
Sam Laterza 8/4/09 3:41:54 PM
 T RY THIS ORBITING SATELLITES
SKILLS: Controlling Variables, Observing, Communicating SKILLS HANDBOOK
3.B.2.
In this activity, you will model and observe how satellites stay in 4. Try and find other stable orbits at different altitudes.
Earth orbit. A. How do you know if the launch speed of the satellite is
Equipment and Materials: computer with Internet access too high? T/I

1. Research some websites where you can simulate the launch B. How do you know of the launch speed of the satellite is
of a satellite from Earth. too low? T/I
C. In which direction does gravity pull the satellite? T/I

GO TO NELSON SCIENCE
D. In which direction does the satellite’s velocity point? T/I

2. Select a website applet (short for application) that has E. To send a satellite into a high-altitude orbit, how would you
various settings to adjust, such as launch speed, launch change the location or speed of your launch? T/I
height, or gravity. There might be other variables to adjust. F. If you wanted to send a spacecraft to the Moon or to another
Play with the variables and see what happens when you planet, how would you change the location or speed of
launch satellites at different speeds. your launch?
3. Adjust the variables until the satellite is successfully in orbit
around Earth.

Types of Orbits
Artificial satellites orbit outside Earth’s atmosphere at altitudes of 200 km
to more than 35 000 km. The higher the satellite is, the longer the orbital
period—the time it takes to circle Earth. At an altitude of about 350 km, the
International Space Station (ISS) takes 90 minutes to orbit Earth, whereas
Canada’s MOST space telescope satellite completes one orbit 820 km above
Earth’s surface in 101 minutes (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Canada’s MOST space

telescope was designed to probe stars
outside the Solar System by measuring
changes in the light they emit.

Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Satellites are placed into different orbits around Earth, depending on
their function. For instance, most human-occupied spacecrafts and those
conducting Earth observations are set at low-altitude orbits. These low Earth
orbit satellites revolve around our planet at altitudes up to 2000 km.

348 Chapter 8 • Our Place in Space NEL

6646_Sci9_Ch08_pp338-359.indd 348 8/7/09 1:34:31 PM

 Satellites that are required to see every part of the planet as they orbit it
are placed in a special type of low Earth orbit called a polar orbit (Figure 5).
A satellite in polar orbit generally travels at an altitude of 200 to 900 km in
a path that takes it over both the North Pole and the South Pole. This type
of orbit allows the satellite to view all parts of Earth. As the planet rotates
beneath the satellite, a new pole-to-pole slice of Earth is monitored with each
orbit of the satellite. These satellites have many uses, including military and
Earth observation. Canada’s RADARSAT satellites are in polar orbits to keep
an eye on a variety of natural and human-made events. They chart icebergs in
Canada’s far Arctic oceans, monitor shifting patterns in agriculture in Africa,
and play an important role in natural disaster response in Asia.

satellite

879 kilometres

Earth

Figure 5 A polar orbit provides the best

global coverage.

Medium Earth Orbit Satellites

Medium Earth orbit satellites travel at altitudes up to 35 000 km. Two dozen
of these satellites are part of the global positioning system (GPS). GPS global positioning system (GPS)
satellites travel in medium Earth orbits at about 11 000 km (Figure 6). They a group of satellites that work together to
determine the positions of given objects
aid in navigation by transmitting signals down to GPS receivers on the ground,
on the surface of Earth
providing them with precise geographical coordinates of their location. The
orbital height of GPS satellites is governed by the fact that at least three satellites
must be visible at any one time by a GPS receiver anywhere on the ground.

Ontario Science 9 SB
0-17-635519-7

FN C08-F25-UCOS9SB

CO Creative Freelancers
Figure 6 Six orbital planes host 24 GPS satellites.
Sam Laterza
NEL 8.11 Satellites 349
Pass Second Pass

Approved
6646_Sci9_Ch08_pp338-359.indd 349 8/4/09 3:42:42 PM
 geostationary orbit an orbital path Geostationary Orbit Satellites
directly over Earth’s equator with a period
equal to the period of Earth’s rotation One type of satellite orbits Earth at a distance of 35 790 km, which is about a
tenth of the way to the Moon. This altitude is significant because it produces
DID YOU KNOW? an orbital period equal to the period of the rotation of Earth. When a
Satellite Television satellite is orbiting at this height directly above the equator, it is said to be in
The advantage of satellite TV is that it geostationary orbit. Satellites in geostationary orbit appear motionless in
provides a wide coverage area, with the sky, which makes them useful for communications and other commercial
the signal reaching millions of homes industries because they can be linked to antennas on Earth. Weather
across large regions of the world. Some
of the latest satellites can transmit
satellites, for example, track weather in this manner (Figure 7).
more than 200 high-definition channels Communication industries use geostationary satellites for satellite
simultaneously. Launched in September broadcast television and radio. Television satellite dishes attached to the
2008, Canada’s communications sides of homes are able to receive the satellite signal by aiming at a fixed spot
satellite Nimiq 4 sends TV broadcast in the sky (Figure 8).
signals across most of North America.

Figure 7 This satellite image shows Hurricane Katrina off the coast Figure 8 The satellite dishes on these apartments are aimed at
of Louisiana in August 2005. a satellite in geostationary orbit.

RESEARCH THIS DIFFERENT KINDS OF SATELLITES

SKILLS: Researching, Evaluating SKILLS HANDBOOK
4.A.5., 4.A.6.
The many different satellites orbiting Earth perform various C. What kind of orbit is your satellite in: low, medium, or high
functions. In this activity, you will research a satellite and describe (geostationary)? T/I
its function and what effect it has on the lives of people. D. RADARSAT-1 is Canada’s first commercial Earth observation
1. Research a satellite that interests you and conduct research satellite. Research its function, orbit, and scientific and
to answer the following questions. commercial applications. Summarize your findings and
A. What function does your satellite perform? T/I present them to the class in a pamphlet, short story, or visual
presentation. T/I C A
B. In your opinion, does your satellite perform a valuable
function? A GO TO NELSON SCIENCE

350 Chapter 8 • Our Place in Space NEL

6646_Sci9_Ch08_pp338-359.indd 350 8/4/09 3:42:53 PM

 T RY THIS SATELLITE IMAGES
SKILLS: Performing, Observing, Analyzing SKILLS HANDBOOK
3.B.
The altitude of a satellite determines the speed at which it travels 2. Place your eyes at the given distances and look at the
and is also an important factor in determining how much of surface of the globe. Move your eyes around at each altitude
Earth’s surface it can see at any given time. Low orbit satellites, to determine how much of Earth’s surface you can see at
such as GPS satellites and weather satellites, are much closer to each orbital height.
Earth’s surface and cannot see as much of its surface as higher 3. Look at the pictures your teacher has provided.
altitude satellites in geostationary orbit.
A. Classify the pictures in one of the three categories: low
In this activity you will use a globe to understand how much of Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, or geostationary orbit. T/I
Earth’s surface different satellites can see. Then you will classify B. If you were developing a satellite to observe the entire continent
pictures of Earth taken by various satellites. of South America, which orbit would you pick? Why? A
Equipment and materials: standard-sized (30 cm diameter) C. If you were developing a satellite to observe weather
globe; metre stick; pictures of Earth patterns over the city of Hamilton, which orbit would
1. To get a sense of the height of the different orbits, use the you pick? Why? A
metre stick to find the following distances above the surface
of the globe. They represent the altitudes of the different
orbits at the same scale of the globe.
low Earth orbit: 4 cm
medium Earth orbit: 20 cm
geostationary orbit: 84 cm

UNIT TASK Bookmark

How can you apply what you learned about travelling in Earth orbit in this section to the
Unit Task described on page 446?

IN SUMMARY
• Many countries, including Canada, have • Different types of orbit (low, medium, and
launched artificial satellites into Earth orbit geostationary), are categorized based on the
to study Earth and objects beyond Earth. satellite’s altitude.
• Objects need to be sent into orbit with enough • Satellites have many different applications for
velocity to avoid being pulled back to Earth’s technologies on Earth, such as satellite television
surface by gravity. and global positioning systems.

CHECK YOUR LEARNING

1. What is the difference between an artificial satellite and 5. How does Earth’s shape enable engineers to put satellites
a natural satellite? Give one example of each. K/U into stable orbit around our planet?
2. Describe three ways in which artificial satellites benefit 6. Identify four different reasons for launching a satellite into
society. A orbit around Earth. K/U
3. (a) When was the first artificial satellite launched into 7. Compare and contrast the three types of Earth orbit
Earth orbit? What country was responsible for this? regarding their altitude and what they are used for. K/ U
(b) When was Canada’s first artificial satellite launched into 8. Sketch Earth with the three different types of Earth orbit.
Earth orbit? What was its name? K/U Label the altitudes and a typical satellite found at each
4. Identify three artificial satellites that Canada has launched level. K/U C
into Earth orbit, and describe their function. K/U 9. What does the acronym GPS stand for, and what is it
used for? K/U

NEL 8.11 Satellites 351

6646_Sci9_Ch08_pp338-359.indd 351 8/4/09 3:42:56 PM